Strand heating device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for the contact heating of a traveling textile strand, the contact surface of which device is readily removable for renovation.

0 United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,723,709

Forshee 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 541 STRAND HEATING DEVICE 3,319,047 5/1967 101168,]1'. @161 ..219 3ss 3,421,192 1/1969 Parker ..28/62 [75] Inventor. J. Harold Forshee, Anderson,S.C. 259,054 M882 219,245 2,362,591 11/1944 Smith ....2l9/245X [73] Assignee. bDo gadlsche Co p wlnlams 3,196,602 7/1965 Jenkins et 61..., ...57/3411s x 3,243,574 3 1966 Blythe etal. ..219 250 22 Filed: 61111214971 [21] A N 191,293 Primary Examiner-Volodymyr Y. Mayewsky Attorney-George F. Helfrich [52] US. Cl ..219/388, 28/62, 57/34 HS,

219/250, 219/530, 219/540 [57] ABSTRACT ..F27b 9 06 235: Search 219,388 530 540 vM5 Disclosed is a device for the contact heating of a 28/62 57/34 traveling textile strand, the contact surface of which device is readily removable for renovation.

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1958 Seem et al. ..57/34 HS PATENTEUHARZ'HWI 723,709

saw 1 BF 2 INVENTOR...

J.HAROLD FORSHEE ATTORNEY...

PATENTEUHAR27|975 SHEET 2 OF INVENTOR...

J. HAROLD FORSHEE ATTORNEY...

STRAND HEATING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the manufacturing of textiles. More particularly, it relates to a device for heat treating an advancing textile strand.

2. Prior Art.

In the commercial manufacture of textile fibers and filaments, heat treatment thereof is often required. For example, in the texturizing, drawing, or drawtwisting of thermoplastic polymeric yarns, heat is generally ap-v plied thereto while the strands are traveling at high speeds. This application of heat is usually effected by passing the yarn around a heated pin, or more advantageously over a heated metal plate, as exemplified by the disclosure ofU.S. Pat. No. 3,103,407.

That such heated metal plates are simple and generally highly efficacious means for applying heat to moving textile strands is not in dispute. However, a uniform heating profile along the contact surfaces of these plates cannot be achieved unless such surfaces are kept substantially free of the decomposition products of the material comprising the textile strands. Moreover, constant contact with moving textile strands often results in severe surface wear, as evidenced by the formation of grooves or channels therein. Accordingly, these heating devices .must be removed frequently for scouring and renovation of their contact surfaces. The dismounting of the entire heating device for exchange thereof with a similar device having acceptable contact surfaces, and the subsequent mounting and crucial realignment of the latter-all result in inconvenience, as well as the loss of considerable time which would otherwise be utilized in the actual processing of yarn for sale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of the instant invention to provide a simple and efficient device for the controlled application of heat to an advancing textile strand, which device need not be dismounted and exchanged when the contact surface thereof is in need of renovation.

In accordance with the instant invention, this object and the attending advantages are achieved, and the disadvantages of prior devices are obviated by providing a device which comprises:

a. A hollow, elongated housing having anterior and posterior longitudinal sections which are releasably secured to each other by clamping means, the anterior section having a convex, low friction, metallic outer surface which contacts the traveling strand, and the posterior section having mounting means for positioning the housing in proximity to the textile strand and aligning the contact surface therewith;

An elongated, insulated electrical resistance heating plate which has a surface which is capable of conforming to the inner surface of the anterior section of the housing, the heating plate being positioned within the housing and communicating with a source of unlimited electrical current by means ofwires passing through the housing; c. Means for urging a surface of the heating plate into coincidence with the inner surface of the anterior section of the housingalong the length thereof; and d. Means for controlling the temperature of the outer surface of the anterior section of the housing within a given range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, which is set forth below, which description should be read together with the accompanying schematic drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the assembled construction and a means of utilizing a device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With particular reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a heating device 10 according to the present invention and a means for its utilization. Melt spun yarn 11 from a suitable source (not shown) is led to and around a heated feed roll 12 and an associated idler roll 13, whence it is passed over contact surface 14 of heating device 10 and then to and around a draw roll 15 and idler roll 16. The-draw roll 15 is rotated at a higher speed than feed roll 12, in order that the yarn may be stretched. From draw roll 15 the yarn 11 is led to a suitable collecting means (not shown), whence it is packaged for utilization.

FIG. 2 shows heating device 10 comprising a hollow elongated housing made up of anterior and posterior longitudinal sections 17 and 18 respectively, which are releasably secured to each other by means of holding thumb screws 19 or equivalent clamping means such as set screws, wing nuts, spring loaded ball screws, or the like. Anterior section 17 has a convex, low friction outer surface 14, advantageously of ceramic or a metal such as chromium, the metal conveniently plated onto a base metal, such as steel, or copper, underlying the surface. On posterior section 18, which is advantageously molded from a polymeric material such as bakelite, polypropylene, or acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene interpolymer, screw mounting means 20 affords positioning of the device 10 in proximity to the textile strand 11 and aligning of the contact surface 14 therewith.

Positioned within secured sections 17 and 18 is an insulated, electrical resistance heater plate (21), having a surface 22 which conforms to the interior surface 23 of anterior section 17. Such heater plates, which are well known in the art, and denominated strip heaters" may be purchased from many sources, among which is Chromolox, Inc. of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Electrical resistance heater plate 21 is connected by wires 24 to means of the supply of unlimited electrical current (not shown). Surface 22 of heater plate 21 is forced into intimate contact along the length of interior surface 23 of anterior section 17 by means of jack screws 25, which pass through holes drilled in posterior section 18. The temperature of contact surface 14 of anterior section 17 is controlled at the desired value by means of thermistor and thermocouple (not shown), which, em-

bedded in holes 29 drilled immediately below contact surface 14, sense variations in temperature and communicate with the means of supply of electrical current to heater plate 21 by means of wires 28.

When contact surface 14 no longer affords a uniform heating profile, anterior section 17 is removed for renovation and exchanged with a similar section 17 by means of holding thumb screws 19. Jack screws 25 are adjusted to force surface 22 of heater plate 21 into intimate contact with the interior surface 23 of the new anterior section 17, and the thermistor and thermocouple are inserted into holes 29 of new anterior section 17.

Since contact surface 14 is already properly positioned and aligned, the heat treating operation may proceed without any further delay.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for the controlled heating of an advancing textile strand, which device comprises:

a. A hollow, elongated housing comprising anterior and posterior longitudinal sections releasably secured to each other by clamping means, the anterior section having a convex low friction, metallic outer surface for contact with the textile strand, and the posterior section being fabricated from polymer material and having mounting means for positioning the housing in proximity to the textile strand and aligning it therewith;

. an elongated, insulated electrical resistance heating plate having a surface conformable to the inner surface of the anterior section, the heating plate positioned within the secured sections of the housing and connected to electrical lead wires for the supply of electrical current;

. releasable means for urging a surface of the heating plate into congruity with the inner surface of the anterior section of the housing along the length thereof; and

. thermostatic means for controlling the temperature of the outer surface of the anterior section of the housing within a given range. 

1. A device for the controlled heating of an advancing textile strand, which device comprises: a. A hollow, elongated housing comprising Anterior and posterior longitudinal sections releasably secured to each other by clamping means, the anterior section having a convex low friction, metallic outer surface for contact with the textile strand, and the posterior section being fabricated from polymer material and having mounting means for positioning the housing in proximity to the textile strand and aligning it therewith; b. an elongated, insulated electrical resistance heating plate having a surface conformable to the inner surface of the anterior section, the heating plate positioned within the secured sections of the housing and connected to electrical lead wires for the supply of electrical current; c. releasable means for urging a surface of the heating plate into congruity with the inner surface of the anterior section of the housing along the length thereof; and d. thermostatic means for controlling the temperature of the outer surface of the anterior section of the housing within a given range. 